Bengaluru: Dalits who convert to Buddhism will be given Scheduled Caste certificates for the purpose of employment and education, the Karnataka government ordered on Monday.

This will apply to people belonging to any of the 101 Scheduled Castes who convert to Buddhism, the social welfare department said in its order.

According to the order, Scheduled Caste people converting as Buddhists should be allowed to identify their religion as Buddhism in the caste certificate application form. Similarly, Scheduled Caste people who become Buddhists may state their religion as ‘Buddhism’ in academic records at schools and colleges.

The order stated that the union government, in 1990, allowed Dalits converting to Buddhism to obtain Scheduled Caste certificates. Based on this, the state government h

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